In a significant milestone for the future of autonomous transportation, Waymo has officially begun offering freeway robotaxi rides in select U.S. cities. The company announced on Nov. 12 that riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the Bay Area who are part of its trusted tester program can now experience self-driving trips that include freeway travel. This marks an important step toward wider adoption of autonomous vehicles across the country.
Waymo Launches Freeway Rides Across Three Major Markets
Waymo confirmed in a blog update that users in its top markets—Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the Bay Area—will have the first chance to use its expanded service. While the company intends to open these features to all users eventually, it did not provide a specific timeline.
Along with freeway access, Waymo also broadened its service boundaries in the Bay Area. The new territory stretches from San Francisco down through the Peninsula to San Jose, greatly expanding coverage for its robotaxi network.
Waymo stated that these upgrades are backed by millions of freeway test miles logged in real-world conditions across multiple cities. It noted that its vehicles have already handled a wide range of freeway scenarios with employees and guests onboard.
The push toward freeway operations became visible earlier in 2024. By August, company representatives informed Arizona officials that autonomous ride-sharing on regional highways was coming. Waymo continues to await feedback from California’s DMV regarding similar approvals.
Currently, Waymo operates in Los Angeles, Phoenix, the Bay Area, Austin, and Atlanta, with more cities expected in the future.
How Waymo’s Driverless Technology Handles Freeways
Advanced Software for Higher-Speed Roads
To ensure safe highway travel, Waymo engineers upgraded the robotaxi’s autonomous driving software. According to Pierre Kreitmann, Waymo’s principal software engineer, the system relies on the same core programming used on local streets but is enhanced to handle faster, more complex highway environments.
The goal is to allow the vehicle to move smoothly and safely between surface streets and freeways.
Tested in Real-Life and Simulated Scenarios
Waymo developed new software protocols to handle unexpected incidents that could occur during high-speed travel. Testing included:
- Merging into fast-moving traffic
- Encountering lane-splitting motorcyclists
- Navigating around hazardous events, such as a nearby vehicle rolling over
The company also established emergency-response behaviors for situations where the vehicle experiences technical issues while in motion.
Commitment to Following Traffic Laws
Waymo emphasized that its virtual driver is designed to obey all posted rules. Company engineer Jacopo Sannazzaro said robotaxis may exceed the speed limit only under “extraordinary circumstances,” such as avoiding a sudden hazard.
Rising Competition in the Robotaxi Market
Waymo’s freeway launch arrives at a time when the autonomous vehicle industry is becoming increasingly competitive. Although the company remains the leader in driverless ride numbers, rivals are aggressively moving forward.
Tesla
During an Oct. 22 earnings call, Elon Musk stated that Tesla plans to introduce self-driving vehicles in 8–10 metro areas by the end of the year. Tesla’s robotaxi service began in Austin on June 22, and the company aims to rapidly scale production of the fully autonomous Cybercab, a model with no steering wheel or pedals, slated for production next year.
Lucid, Uber, Nuro & NVIDIA
The Lucid Group has partnered with Uber and Nuro to supply vehicles for a new San Francisco robotaxi program launching next year.
At the same time, NVIDIA announced a new autonomous technology alliance with Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis, designed to support Uber’s plan to deploy automated fleets worldwide.
